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The DocumentsUI module controls access to specific files for components that
handle document permissions (such as attaching a file to an email). This module
is updatable, meaning it can receive updates to functionality outside of the
normal Android release cycle.
Making storage access and permissions into a module increases privacy and
security for end users while allowing Android partners to customize the features
and theming of the app through runtime resource overlays
(RROs). The module format ensures that all
devices ship with the same DocumentsUI experience, enabling developers to know
what users see for associated APIs.
The DocumentsUI module handles the following actions.
Interacts with the framework only through stable @SystemApi APIs (no
@hide API usage).
Exposes a mechanism for enabling Android partners to customize features and
theming.
Protects the MANAGE_DOCUMENTS permission using a signature permission.
Display Files launcher icon
In Android 10, the DocumentsUI module uses is_launcher_enabled to determine if
the Files launcher icon should display in the app drawer. In Android
11 or higher, the module uses the component-override
package to determine if the Files launcher icon displays in the app drawer.
By default, the icon is enabled. To disable it, add the following XML to
/etc/sysconfig.
The DocumentsUI module implements the GET_CONTENT action that enables apps to
request access to other data from the user.
Module format
The DocumentsUI module (com.android.documentsui) is delivered as an
APK file and is available for devices running Android
10 or higher.
Module dependencies
This DocumentsUI module depends on the MANAGE_DOCUMENTS permission protected
by the signature permission; an additional permission class ensures that only
one app on the device has the MANAGE_DOCUMENTS permission.
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Last updated 2025-06-12 UTC.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-06-12 UTC."],[],[],null,["# DocumentsUI\n\n| **Important:** Starting in Android 12, file browsing through DocumentsUI is disabled.\n\nThe DocumentsUI module controls access to specific files for components that\nhandle document permissions (such as attaching a file to an email). This module\nis updatable, meaning it can receive updates to functionality outside of the\nnormal Android release cycle.\n\nMaking storage access and permissions into a module increases privacy and\nsecurity for end users while allowing Android partners to customize the features\nand theming of the app through [runtime resource overlays\n(RROs)](/docs/core/architecture/rros). The module format ensures that all\ndevices ship with the same DocumentsUI experience, enabling developers to know\nwhat users see for associated APIs.\n\nThe DocumentsUI module handles the following actions.\n\n- Interacts with the framework only through stable `@SystemApi` APIs (no\n `@hide` API usage).\n\n- Exposes a mechanism for enabling Android partners to customize features and\n theming.\n\n- Protects the `MANAGE_DOCUMENTS` permission using a signature permission.\n\nDisplay Files launcher icon\n---------------------------\n\nIn Android 10, the DocumentsUI module uses `is_launcher_enabled` to determine if\nthe Files launcher icon should display in the app drawer. In Android\n11 or higher, the module uses the `component-override`\npackage to determine if the Files launcher icon displays in the app drawer.\n\nBy default, the icon is enabled. To disable it, add the following XML to\n`/etc/sysconfig`. \n\n \u003c?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\"?\u003e\n \u003cconfig\u003e\n \u003ccomponent-override package=\"com.android.documentsui\" \u003e\n \u003ccomponent class=\"com.android.documentsui.LauncherActivity\" enabled=\"false\" /\u003e\n \u003c/component-override\u003e\n \u003c/config\u003e\n\nRequest user data\n-----------------\n\nThe DocumentsUI module implements the `GET_CONTENT` action that enables apps to\nrequest access to other data from the user.\n\nModule format\n-------------\n\nThe DocumentsUI module (`com.android.documentsui`) is delivered as an\nAPK file and is available for devices running Android\n10 or higher.\n\nModule dependencies\n-------------------\n\nThis DocumentsUI module depends on the `MANAGE_DOCUMENTS` permission protected\nby the signature permission; an additional permission class ensures that only\none app on the device has the `MANAGE_DOCUMENTS` permission."]]
